SYSTEMATIC REVIEW COMPARING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTICLES USING PCATOOL TO EVALUATE PHC SERVICES

Introduction and Objective: Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool) is used widespread throughout the world allowing comparison between primary care teams internationally. This study compares PHC attributes scores among national and international studies using PCATool since 2001. Method: Systematic review using the major databases searching for the term "Primary Care Assessment Tool". We found 977 articles in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Only articles using the complete "Adult" version in general population samples were included. Those using exclusively the "Child" version, the "Professional" version or just part of the "Adult" questionnaire, or those focusing on specific population groups, such as people with tuberculosis, diabetics or women were also excluded . Results and Conclusion: 31 articles were selected, 12 from Brazil and 19 from other countries. Most Brazilian articles pointed out accessibility as the major weakness. That is also the reality of studies from Paraguay and Uruguay. Even Canada and the US have evaluated this attribute as the worst. However, while in developed countries accessibility is considered poor because It is difficult to see the doctor on the same day, in Latin America there are few primary care services working on the weekends or at nights and It is practically impossible to solve minor health problems by telephone. Latin America PHC still imposes many barriers to the user. Investments in structuring friendly services are necessary.